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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 1986
HE SUGGESTED THAT THE REDUCTION IN REVENUE RESULTING FROM THE INCREASE COULD BE REMEDIED BY RAISING THE BETTING TAX RATES.
MR CHAN SAID HE WELCOMED THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S MEDIUM TERM FINANCIAL FORECAST FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, SAYING IT WAS ENCOURAGING TO SEE THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD A LONG-TERM PLAN.
COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF CONTRACTORS NEEDED
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LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR THE HON CHENG HON-KWAN TODAY (WEDNESDAY) CALLED FOR A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF CONTRACTORS TENDERING FOR MAJOR PUBLIC BUILDING PROJECTS.
+NOW IS THE RIGHT TIME TO LOOK AGAIN AT THE WAY CONTRACTORS' CAPACITIES ARE ASSESSED BEFORE THEY ARE ALLOWED TO TENDER FOR SUCH PROJECTS,+ MR CHENG SAID DURING THE BUDGET DEBATE IN THE COUNCIL.
+IT IS ALSO HIGH TIME TO LOOK AGAIN AT THE WAY IN WHICH TENDERS THEMSELVES ARE ASSESSED.+
HE REFERRED TO A RECENT REPORT THAT A BUILDING CONTRACTOR ENGAGED ON THREE PUBLIC HOUSING CONTRACTS HAD DISAPPEARED, LEAVING BEHIND UNFINISHED CONTRACTS.
+APART FROM THE IMPACT ON MORE THAN A THOUSAND WORKERS WHO FIND THEMSELVES SUDDENLY OUT OF A JOB, THE COST IS LIKELY TO BE CONSIDERABLE,+ SAID MR CHENG, ADDING THAT RE-TENDERING MIGHT BE NECESSARY.
HE NOTED THAT THERE WERE PRESCRIBED MINIMUM LEVELS (IN TERMS OF ASSETS, EQUIPMENT AND RESOURCES) FOR CONTRACTORS SEEKING ADMISSION TO THE RECOGNISED CATEGORIES OF TENDERERS- AND IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY THAT THE LOWEST BID SHOULD NORMALLY BE ACCEPTED.
MR CHENG SAID THIS WAS NOT ENOUGH. +QUANTITATIVE COMPLIANCE WITH TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS IS NEVER ENOUGH ON ITS OWN. QUALITATIVE JUDGEMENT IS NEEDED ALSO, HE STRESSED.
HE SAID A CONTRACTOR'S CAPACITY TO TENDER FOR A MAJOR PUBLIC PROJECT MUST BE JUDGED COMPREHENSIVELY AND THAT, IF NECESSARY HIS CAPACITY AND FITNESS TO HANDLE MORE THAN ONE SUCH CONTRACT SIMULTANEOUSLY MUST BE JUDGED ALIKE.
+ACCEPTANCE OF THE LOWEST TENDER MUST NOT ALWAYS COME TO BE REGARDED AS A SACRED PRINCIPLE, HE SAID.
/COMMENTING ON